So far I have clocked over 350 hours on my next album. I know that because I actually track my time. Through out the process of writing tracks there are some major landmines you have to avoid. One of the biggest ones is tweaking things to death. Since I am getting all my tracks ready to send to mastering I am finding myself running into those landmines, so I am writing this article as a reminder to you and myself.
My good friend Danceher once shared the concept of diminishing returns with me. The idea is there is a point in which your effort brings you less of a return. So in this case working on a track past the point of anyone being able to notice or care.
When you are mixing your music you can spend a lot of time on the details, and you should. At some point though, you reach a place where a small number of people on the planet can tell the subtle differences of what you are doing. That is the point of diminishing returns. The track sounds great, and it’s a tight mix. You can however keep going and tweak things more and more. You then get to a point where almost no one can tell the difference.
It’s important during every step in the creative process to know where the point of diminishing return is. There is no way you will ever have a track that is absolutely perfect. You still want it to be amazing and showing the pinnacle of your skill, but keep in mind when you are just wasting time.
Another trap with tweaking past this point is actually lowering the final quality. By trying to over process things with eq, or adding all these subtle effects you might end up watering down the final track.
AVOID WASTING YOUR EFFORTS
One great way to avoid wasting your time is taking breaks. This is probably the hardest technique to master as a creative person, but the most relevant.
I am working on mixing down these tracks for Mastering. If I spend countless hours on the reverb I will loose touch on how the whole track sounds and probably how it fits in my overall album. That is why I take breaks and think about the overall picture. Then when I go back to mixing I have both fresh ears, and a fresh perspective. I like to mix for about an hour and then take a break.
Another great way is to listen to other music. This can be a trap in it’s self, but can help give you perspective. Don’t judge yourself against the music, but listen to the overall mix. I have been listening to a lot of Eskmo, Massive Attack, and Triphonic to freshen my ears. I notice new details in their music and listen to their over all mix. Then when I go back to my music I can take that into my mix. Also It reminds me of what “good” sounds like. I can tell there are a few flaws in there mix, or maybe it’s simpler than I remember. That helps me stay on task. Just don’t get into a cycle of judging yourself.
HOW I BALANCE EFFORT AND RETURN
The way I approach my music is trying to create something that inspires me. I try to make sure every piece of the process pushes my edges, is the best I can create, and keeps me inspired. I want to make sure the melody and composition are amazing. There comes a point in writing where I start getting worried if it’s good enough, or what if this or that was better. In those cases I follow where my heart and passion lead me. If I am excited about it, and I know it’s good… move on.
With this album I have had to do a lot of that balancing act. I want it to be the best album I have ever made. I want it to express complex emotion, but also be technically brilliant. That is a tough thing to do, but by following what really excites me, and knowing when to step back I have been able to quickly express myself.
KNOW THYSELF
Really the only way to know where the point of diminishing returns is for you, is practice. It’s a different point for different people, but taking your time and realizing when this is for you will make you more confident and faster as a musician.
